Page 37 of Saving Nevin
“I wanted to,” I told him once I’d pulled back and could look up at him once more. “For you.”
“Yeah?” His brow raised, and for a moment, he looked kind of ornery. Like he had some sort of trick up his sleeve. It made my stomach do a somersault. “Well, I have a surprise for you. Come into the living room with me for a sec.”
And there it was. The reason for my nerves. A surprise? Didn’t Kace know I hated surprises?
I bit my lip and followed him, sitting down on the couch. Kace crouched down in front of me. He took my hands and gently placed them palms-up in my lap. “Okay. Hold your hands out like this, and close your eyes—and don’t open them until I say so. No peeking, or no sex for a week.”
I snorted a laugh at that. “Like you could keep your hands to yourself.”
He huffed. “Damn it. I mean it, though. Don’t peek. I want this to be a surprise.”
“But Ihatesurprises,” I whined, even as his footsteps faded away.
“You won’t hate this one,” he called back. “I promise.”
I squirmed, but true to my word, I didn’t peek. I squeezed my eyes so tightly shut that I saw little stars and dots floating around the backs of my eyelids.
It wasn’t long before Kace’s footsteps drew near once more, and the scent of my Alpha’s warm spice was right in front of me. My heart kicked in my chest as the anticipation mounted. What did he get me that was so important?
Something warm and fuzzy was placed into my waiting hands. I squeaked softly, just as Kace murmured, “You can open your eyes now,” and I found myself gaping down at the tiniest, most precious little kitten I’d ever seen in my life. She was a fluff-ball of pure white, with misty gray points and a ribbon tied loosely around her neck that matched her big blue eyes.
“A kitten!” I gasped out. “Oh my god, Kace.”
“It’s been bugging me, ever since you told me about the barn cats you used to care for,” he admitted softly, stroking the kitten’s fur with one fingertip. Moments later, a soft rumbling came from the little creature as it began to purr, eating up the attention. “I’ve been meaning to adopt a pet since I fixed up the place anyhow, so why not now?”
“She’s beautiful,” I whispered. I picked up the kitten in both hands and drew her to my face, breathing in the smell of cedar on her fur. She even smelled like my Alpha. “I love her already.”
“Got a name for her?” he asked, which made me ponder, thinking over all the baby name books I’d scoured through in the past, all the while daydreaming about babies of my own. All those barn cats, the kittens every spring and summer. All the little ones I’d poured my heart and soul into.
Soon, I would be a father, for real.
After a moment, I placed a kiss on the kitten’s small head. “How about Bianca? It means pure.”
“Bianca. I love that,” Kace agreed, then leaned in and captured my lips in a tender kiss. “And I loveyou,Nevin.”
I sighed happily. “I will never get tired of hearing you say that.”
26
NEVIN
Xanand I were strolling through the mall when suddenly, Xan grabbed my arm with a sharp gasp. It was so out of character for him that immediately, my anxiety spiked.
My mind conjured up images of Rex and his cronies lurking around the corner, but when I spun to look at Xan, I found him staring—no, drooling—at a tall, dark-haired man with piercings working at one of the stores nearby.
My rattled nerves only slightly calmed at that. Of course it was just another random hottie that Xan needed to pine over. Not the men from my nightmares. Thank god for small miracles, I guess.
“Do you see him?” Xan hissed under his breath, squeezing my arm.
“Um… Yeah? I have eyes, Xan,” I said around a laugh.
He elbowed me. “Shut up. He’s perfect. Like, god’s gift to mankind. C’mon, let’s go browse the store. I need to know if he’s wearing a ring. An Alpha like that’s gotta be married. But if not…” He grinned, big and toothy. “I call dibs. Mine.”
Straightening his shoulders and never once letting go of his grip on my arm, he marched us across the mall and into the store, which seemed to be some sort of novelty shop with gag gifts and t-shirts and party games.
“Welcome in,” the Alpha drawled, sounding bored as he scrolled on his phone with his other hand. I had to give Xan credit—he was pretty damn gorgeous, with a head of dark curls and a pair of snake-bite piercings, along with a gauged hoop in his septum. I could see ink peeking out from beneath the collar of his work shirt, too. Definitely Xan’s type.
“Heyyy.” Xan sauntered over to the counter and struck up a conversation with the sexy Alpha, whose name-tag said his name was Rafe. It fit him. While Xan and Rafe chatted it up, I meandered through the store, idly browsing the goods. There was a little bit of everything here, including adult-themed party games, like Naked Twister.
